Chrish Bosh is set for a starting role in Miami Heat's must-win Game 6 against the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he might consider starting the power forward in the crucial game of the Eastern Conference finals. "I'm still going through that thought process," Spoelstra said after Heat's practise session on Wednesday.
"I think he'll be able to handle to a bigger load of minutes, and it will be based on how he feels throughout the game."
Bosh said he was 99% healthy and would be comfortable starting the game. "I just want to play. It doesn't matter to me. I think we feel confident in whoever we put out there. We're good enough to get the job done."
Bosh played 14 minutes in Game 5, but only played less than four minutes in the second half stretch with Boston's Kevin Garnett especially dominating the paint. "Those are the decisions you have to make," Spoelstra said.
"I know after the fact, those can always be second-guessed. But we're treading in kind of new waters right now, and he had been out quite a while. But he'll play more tomorrow night."
Bosh said he was not worried about the lack of playing time in Game 5 and was looking forward to a bigger role on Thursday. ""It's not frustrating at all. I know everybody really likes to use the word 'frustration' in everything involved in this game. When you have the right guys in at the right time, I can't want everything in my first game back.
"I feel like I had more to give, but we went with our guys who have been getting the job done the past two series. Hopefully, I'll be able to contribute a little bit more.
"I'll improve for Game 6 and make sure that I don't give up some points like I did because they're crucial."
LeBron James admitted the team would need Bosh's presence against the Celtics, who have won three straight games. "We're going to have to have him out on the court," James said.
"I think he played great in his minutes that he had last night. Fourteen minutes, nine (points) and seven (rebounds), that's some really good production. So the fact that we're whole finally for a game that means a lot to us all and should help us."
